Massive merger could explain origin of Milky Way's supermassive black hole
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 16:04
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The mystery of how supermassive black holes, which can be millions of times more massive than the sun and sit at the heart of most galaxies, came to exist is one of the great questions in astrophysics.
Researchers from the Nevada Center for Astrophysics at UNLV (NCfA) have uncovered new evidence that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, called Sagittarius A' (Sgr A') NASA's Hubble, Chandra find supermassive black hole duo
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Like two Sumo wrestlers squaring off, the closest confirmed pair of supermassive black holes have been observed in tight proximity. These are located approximately 300 light-years apart and were detected using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. These black holes, buried deep within a pair of colliding galaxies, are fueled by infalling gas and dust, causing them to s Parker Solar Probe Lines Up for Final Venus Flyby
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NASA's Parker Solar Probe executed a short maneuver on Aug. 26 that kept the spacecraft on course for the mission's seventh and final planned Venus flyby on Nov. 6.
Operating on preprogrammed commands, Parker fired its small directional thrusters for about 17 seconds, changing its velocity by less than a mile per hour, and setting its trajectory some 386 miles (593 kilometers) closer to a AI distinguishes dark matter signals from cosmic noise
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Dark matter, an unseen force believed to hold the universe together, constitutes approximately 85% of all matter and 27% of the universe's content. Although its gravitational effects on galaxies and cosmic structures are well-documented, the true nature of dark matter remains elusive.
A dominant theory posits that dark matter could be made up of particles that interact only through gravity Debris from NASA's DART Mission Could Potentially Reach Earth and Mars
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NASA's Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) mission, which struck the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, has not only altered the asteroid's orbit but has also created a plume of debris that may eventually reach both Earth and Mars, according to new simulations. The debris, although harmless, could potentially be observed as meteors.
On September 26, 2022, NASA's DART spacecraft, weighing approxi Keeping the cosmos clean
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Asked to describe his work for a lay audience, Allan Shtofenmakher responds with an unexpected question: "Have you ever seen the movie 'Wall-E?'" Recalling that the 2008 Disney-Pixar movie's view of Earth from space was "brown and dusty and just surrounded by tons and tons of space junk," he cautions, "If we're not good stewards of our local space environment, we could actually end up in a situa First Metal Part 3D Printed in Space Aboard ISS
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ESA's Metal 3D Printer has successfully produced the first-ever metal part in space. This technological milestone, achieved through a partnership with Airbus, marks a significant advancement in additive manufacturing in microgravity.
The Metal 3D Printer was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this year. ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen was responsible for installing th ChemCam Laser Hits 1 Million Zaps on Mars, Continues Data Collection
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The ChemCam instrument, developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, has fired its laser for the 1 millionth time on Mars. Positioned atop NASA's Curiosity rover, ChemCam has been key to scientific discoveries since its deployment in 2012.
"Not only is this a remarkable technical accomplishment for our instrument, but it also represents a staggering amount of chemistry data from the surfac Antarctic research supports healthy space for astronauts
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Astronauts and Australian Antarctic expeditioners are working together to advance human health in space, and on Earth.
Today, four astronauts are orbiting Earth on the Polaris Dawn mission, undertaking a range of research projects to better understand the effects of long-duration spaceflight on human health.
At the same time, expeditioners and doctors at Australia's Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations are collecting data for two of the projects, involving ultrasound and body scanning technology.
Australian Antarctic Division Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jeff Ayton, said the two projects were part of a collaboration with the US-based Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH).
"Antarctic expeditioners and astronauts are both isolated, confined populations in extreme environments, doing hazardous work, dependent on technology for survival, and with limited scope for evacuation," he said.
"This makes Australia's Antarctic Program an excellent analog for understanding the risks to humans in space, and for testing and developing technologies and methodologies to reduce these risks.
Keeping mold out of future space stations
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 16:02 Write a comment
Mold can survive the harshest of environments, so to stop harmful spores from growing on future space stations, a new study suggests a novel way to prevent its spread.
The invisible battle for space dominance
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 14:00
Spacewalking is the new domain of the rich as billionaire attempts first private spacewalk
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 13:48 Write a comment
First came space tourism. Now comes an even bigger thrill for the monied masses: spacewalking.
The stage is set for the first private spacewalk Thursday. Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman will pop out of the hatch of his orbiting SpaceX capsule, two days after blasting off from Florida on a chartered flight that lifted him and his crew higher than anyone since NASA's moonwalkers. He partnered with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to buy a series of rocket rides and help develop brand new spacesuits.
SpaceX is the first private company to attempt a spacewalk, until now the domain of just 12 countries. There's a reason why it's such a niche and elite group: Spacewalking is considered the most dangerous part of any flight after launch and reentry, and demands extensive training.
Hera CubeSats’ touchdown
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 12:22 Write a comment
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Hera CubeSats’ touchdown U.S. space weather policy is alive and well but is insufficiently funded
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 12:00
Private astronauts on daring trek ahead of historic spacewalk
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 11:56 Write a comment
A private crew set out on an audacious orbital expedition Tuesday, journeying deeper into the cosmos than any humans in half a century as they prepare for the first ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.
The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, led by Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and should by the end of its first day attain a peak alt